Not far from Luella and Effie Tildon's large family mansion looms the House of Mercy, a workhouse for wayward girls. When the sisters accidentally learn a secret about their father, the brazen older sister, Luella, becomes emboldened to do as she pleases. But then one morning she is mysteriously gone. Effie suspects her father has sent Luella to the House of Mercy, and the only way to free Luella is to get herself committed as well.